Power-generator



A. E. REED.

POWER GENERATOR.

APPLICATION min $123.14, 1920.

1,".69542.` 'Patented Feb. 22,1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l- A. E. REED.

POWER GENERATOR. Ariucmon mln rsa. 14. 1920.

Patented P61122, 1921.

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A. E. REED.

PowER Genen/non.

APPLICATlON FILED FEB. 14| 1920.

1,369,542. Patented Feb. 22,1921.

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3mm/n10@ .Esa Reed UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ASA E. REED, F SAN IBERNABDINO, CALIFORNIA.

POWER-GENERATOR.

Speeieation of Letters Patent. Patented Feb. 22, l1921.

Application led February 14, 1920. Serial No. 358.586.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ASA E. REED, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Bernardino, in the county of San Bernardino and rState of California, have invented new i and useful Improvements in Power-,Generators, of which the following is a specification.

This inventionrelates to an improvement 1n power generators of that type designed to be operated by the air or water currents,

or bythe ocean waves, and in which the action ofthe force is directly expressed in the .movement of the generator.

movement is generated in the same direction without regard to the direction of the force, so that a change of direction of the latter, will not result'in a reversal of the generator. This dispenses with complicated reversing mechanism as usually employed in devices of this type, and permits a more simple and 'economical construction.

-The invention involves the construction of a power member adapted for rotation and provided witha plurality of series of fins mounted on individual pivots, and limited in movement to either side of the plane of the member by stops. The projection of the {ins beyond the planeof the member provides inclined sections vagainst which. the force is directedy to impart movement to the member. The rests are adjustable, so that the degree of inclination of the sections or lins may be controlled at will, to thereby vary the speed andpower of the power member as maybe desired.

The power member is substantially rectangular, with each series of fins occupying a space of substantially one-fourth of the area of such rectangular form. Each set of fins is, however, arranged at right angles to the adjacent set for-series, so that the diagonally-related sets of fins are in operation at one and the same time. If however, reversal of force occurs, the opposing sets of fins are at once brought into playl and movement of the power member continues in the same directionas before.

The invention'is illustrated in the preferred form and in the single application in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the improved power generator.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2-2 of Fig. l.

iFig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail, llustratin the mounting of the Stops to permit their a justability.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail illustrating the mounting of a fin.

The improved power enerator is here shown as including a sing e power member, comprising a rectangular outer frame l, having a central hub 2, and division bars 3, radiatingfrom the hub to the central points of the respective side ofthe frame. The frame is thus divided into four equal sections, and as will be plain hereinafter, each ection is to be provided with one series of The fins 4, which may be of any length and width rerjuired ofthe particular frame section,jare o metal, and may if desired be reinforced by longitudinal bars 5, as shown. The inner longitudinal edges 6 of the fins are supported on or connected to pivot rods 7, which in turn are ivotally mounted at the respective ends in t e outer frame and division bars of such frame.

The fins are here shown as arranged 1n series, that is a certain number of such fins mounted for coperative action under the force influence. Each certain number of fins 4so mounted constitute an independent series, and will be so termed hereinafter. The adjacent series of fins are mounted at right angles to each other, that is the fins of one series will extend Vin one direction, while the fins of the adjacent series extend in directions at direct right angles. Therefore successively about the power member, the series of fins will be in successive series, each following series being at right angles to the immediately preceding series.

The fins of each series are to be controlled and operated in an .identical manner, and as Y will be obvious will be angled on their pivot rods, with relation to the planeof the frame, so that the moving force acti-ng against such angled fin, will impart movement t0 the member as a whole.

" To limit the angled relation or pivotal swing of the fins, there is provided a series of restsfor each end of all fins of a series, formed to limit movement of the fins in either direction, These rests or stops are the member.

bars 8, adj ustably secured to the outer frame bar part and to the division bar in which the particular series of finsjare pivotally mounted. The bars are preferably formed with longitudinal slots 9, to receive fastening means 10 from the frame bars, so that the stop bars may be moved to adjusted positions longitudinally of the frame bars.,

gree of inclination of Vthe fins may be varied as desired. It being apparent that thel inclination controls the speed and therefore' the power of' the device, the stops are thus adapted to govern the speed and power as maybe foundnecessary. f

The power member is preferably fixed by ymeans of its hub to a long hollow bearing member 13, and the latter rotatably mounted on afshaft 14.4 The ends of the shaft are supported in vend frames 15, and the-latter mounted on a suitable base 1 Y In operation the current or wave motion acts on the fins'to incline thosesubject to such action, andby acting against 'the fins so inclined, will impart pressure to such fins. As the fins are mounted in va rotating body, such pressure is converted to a rotating movement of the power member. The invention contemplates any desired mechanism whereby the rotation of the power member may be transmitted to any point for use, this detail being well understood mechanically, and forming no part of this invention.

From the construction described it will be plain that the respective series of fins are successively brought into action and subjectedtovthe force, and that all of the .ins except the series in action,`will be held by the force in substantially the plane of However, if the force should reverse, it will be apparent that kthe movement or direction vof the power member will notbe interrupted as the set of lins diagonally opposite the` set acted on by the force wheny in one direction, will respond to the force in the vopposite direction, with the effect, however, to continue the movementV and direction of the ower member.

Secured to yall the ns regardless of series are what may be termed banks, comprising outstanding metallic sections 17, which follow a curved line with the center of rotation of the member as a center. These i banks assist in creating aA circular motion of the member by banking the force after the lin has reversed, that is has moved to its reversed position against the stops.

Of course the force moving in line with the axis of the power member will act on all the fins to incline them away from such force, and bythe inclined face presented by the fins the force will rotate the member. The reversal of the fins due to the reversal of the force will, as is obvious, simply act against an exactlysimilar plane, so far as the direction of force is concerned, and the direction of movement `of the member will be the same. Y

The device is to be used wherever power is to be generated from a flowing force, and

when used as a current motor may beandU preferably is, completely submerged. Brace members may be lemployed whereverv necessary, andV provision made for oiling the moving parts. The power members maybel connected in series on the same shaft, and connected together, or used in tandem series, or in any other arrangement that may be suggestedby the conditions. I

aving thus described my invention, `what is claimed as new, is Y 1. A power generator, comprising a power member mounted for rotation, and afplu- Y rality of-finsmounted in said member, said ns'being arranged 'in right-angularly related series in succession.

2. A power generator, comprising a power member mounted forV rotation, a series of individually mounted fins in the member, and arcuate U-shaped stops extending from veach side of the member to limit the movement v.of the fins to a position at an angle to the plane of the member and on eachside thereof.

3. A power generator,fcomprising a rectangular power member mounted for rotation, a plurality of series of ns arranged in said member, the fins of one seriesbeing at right angles to the fins of the next series, the fins of each seriesubeing Apivotallysup- Vported at one edge to permit a swinging adjustable means to limit the play ofV the freefedges of the fins, and bars onfthe entire series of fins arranged in aV circular. line about the center ofv rotation of the member.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature.

ASA EQREED. 

